View full sizeBarry Matson, with the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services, talks about Alabama's new gun law during a seminar in Gadsden Wednesday, July 24, 2013. (William Thornton / wthornton@al.com)

GADSDEN, Alabama -- After two hours of wading into Alabama's new gun law, a room full of police, deputies, security guards and business owners said they felt a little better about it, but still had questions.

"We've been going through this since January," said St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles. "We've thrown this up against the wall, twisted it around, batted it back and forth and gone all over it. We're just going to have to try it and see how it works, but we can work it out."

Surles' words summed up many of the sentiments in the room after the first of three information sessions on the gun law, which takes effect Aug. 1. The event, provided by the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services, was designed to help
law enforcement officers, education administrators and business owners
understand recent legislation changing Alabama's firearms law.

There are three information sessions today at Gadsden's Senior Activities Center, and the parking lot outside showed a heavy law enforcement presence, with cars visible from sheriff and police departments throughout the state. Officers from as far away as Tuscaloosa, Talladega and Wilcox County came for the first session.

Barry Matson, with the Office of Presecution Services, conducted the sessions. At times, he told officers that many parts of the law still need clarification. For example, sheriffs can deny a pistol permit to someone who has been convicted of violent crimes, some drug-related crimes or sexual abuse crimes involving victims under the age of 12. But does that extend to drivers convicted of a DUI? Matson said it probably affects an aggravated DUI offense, but would likely depend on the facts of the case.

At one point, Matson asked an officer if he would stop a private citizen openly carrying a pistol if that officer was working security at a public event, such as a football game. The officer said yes, and Matson told him this was allowed.

Matson said part of his job during the seminar was to set some officers' minds at ease about the law. An officer still has the ability to stop a person legally if they have reason to believe a crime has been committed or public safety may be at risk.

"These guys are worried about challenges," he said. "They don't want to get sued, they don't want their departments to get sued, and they don't want to get shot. Most people agree fundamentally about the Second Amendment - they just want to be safe."

Matson said the law is not that complicated, but can seem that way if you attempt to distill all of its effects into a two-hour presentation.

Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson said some provisions of the law still need clarification, but that law enforcement agencies are satisfied with the changes in relation to the bill that was originally proposed. Lawmen throughout the state opposed the original bill until changes were made before passage.

"We're glad to be where we are with it," he said.

One business owner asked whether anything was needed beyond a sign to notify customers that guns were not allowed on a store's property. Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said his department will have about 200 signs printed up by Aug. 1 for businesses or churches that wish to prohibit firearms on their properties. More signs will be available as needed.

Entrekin agreed with Amerson that the bill was better than originally proposed, and that some changes in the old gun laws were needed. He cited the ability of departments to use credit and debit cards for payment of permit fees as an improvement, as well as the ability of people to carry weapons in their cars to and from workplaces, such as in the case of hunters.

"There are still some portions that are not clear, but those things will get worked out," he said.

Matson told officers that time-tested law enforcement practices, such as reasonable suspicion, expectations of public safety and a feeling of danger can still be applied to on-the-job situations.

"Common sense is alive," he said. "We can fix everything else, like someone's feelings. Your safety is the number one thing."